Does herbivory select for resistant genotypes of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia?
Franks, Steven*,1, Pratt, Paul1, Dray, F Allen1, Simms, Ellen2, 1 USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA2 University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA ABSTRACT- While biological control has the potential to be an important tool in managing pest populations, a biological control program may not be successful if the target species is able to evolve resistance or tolerance to the effects of the control agent. To examine how an invasive species may evolve in response to herbivory by biological control insects, we conducted a quantitative genetics study of the invasive tree species Melaleuca quinquenervia. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) which traits in Melaleuca relate to tolerance and resistance to herbivory, 2) the degree to which these defensive traits are under genetic control, and 3) whether and at what rate defensive genotypes would be expected to spread through established populations. We collected seeds from 120 maternal
